Underwaist



(No Model.)

S. T. CONVERSE.

UNDERWAIST.

No. 513,633. Patented Jan. 30, 1894.

m5 NATIONAL Ll'moqmpnma COMPANY.

WA-BHINGYON. n c.

NI'IED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SUSAN TAYLOR CONVERSE, OF VVOBURN, MASSACHUSETTS.

U NDERWAIST.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 513,633, dated January 30, 1894..

Application filed June 9, 1893. Serial No. 477,118. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, SUSAN TAYLOR CON- VERSE, of Wobnrn, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improved Underwaist, of which the following is a specification.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a front View and Fig. 2 a rear view of one of my improved garments for women embodying all the features of my invention. Figs. 3 and 4. are like vlews of another form of my improved garment for children and men. In the drawings A A are pieces covering the breast and A is a piece covering the portion of the back; that is the upper portion of the garment indicated by A A A covers the upper portion of the back and the breast; and this portion of the garment is of knitted fab- 110 which is elastic as above explained; but the parts A A are connected by strips a a of fabric which is inelastic, as any woven goods of proper quality and texture. The lower portion of the garment which extends about the body under the arms is also of woven fabno, or other fabric which is inelastic, and is preferably made of six pieces I) b b b b b", to admit of a better fit around the body than a less number of pieces would give; but the matter of main importance is that the garment should be composed of an upper portion A A A of elastic fabric asabove explained; a middle front portion a a over the middle of the breast of fabric which is substantially inelastic; and a lower portion B which is also of fabric substan tially inelastic. A garment embodying this, the main feature of my inventlon, is not only comfortable to the wearer, but is especially well adapted to support the lower garments, and distribute their weight in a very desirable manner, as the chest is allowed full expansion.

In most cases especially for women the lower portion B of the garment should be made ad- Justable as by lacing flaps (1 cl and cord d In Fig. 1, the middle front portion a, a is integral or otherwise connected with the front pieces b b and those front pieces b b are curved from under the arm scyes to the front and lower edge of the garment, and the pieces b b are sewed to the lower curved edges of the pieces Z) b This construction is a fea ture of my invention and is especially desirable in womens garments which cover the abdomen. V

In Fig. 1 the breast pieces A A have gores cut out from their lower edges, and the out edges formed by, cutting out these gores are sewed together and the seams are covered by the reinforcing strips a In most cases two gores and two strips of will answer, but for very full busts three are better; and at times one will be sufficient. Of course for men and children these gores and strips or. are unnecessary.

In practice I prefer to carry the reinforcing strips 0. well above the seam joining the edges formed by cutting out the gores; and the strips 01 should be of inelastic'fabric for the best results.

I am aware of Patent No. 37 6,924, to Emma Thompson, dated January 24, 1888, and dis claim all that is shown in it, for the upper part of the-garment there shown is composed of a back B, and shoulder straps e e, both of inelastic fabric, while in my garment the back A and the two front pieces A A are of elastic fabric.

What I claim as my invention is- 1. The improved under waist above described composed of the upper pieces A A A of elastic fabric, covering the upper portion of the back, shoulders and breast except at the front; middle front pieces 6' b of inelastic fabric with extensions a a at their upper edges; back pieces b b of inelastic fabric and secured to the lower edge of back piece A and back pieces b 79 of inelastic fabric; all substantially as set forth.

2. An under waist composed of the upper pieces A A A of elastic fabric covering the upper portion of the back, shoulders and breast, except at the front; middle front pieces I) b of inelastic fabric with extensions 01 a at their upper edges and cut curved at their lower edges; lower front pieces 11 b of inelastic fabric with their upper edges cut curved to fit the curves on the lower edges of the middle front pieces; and back pieces of inelastic fabric secured to the lower edge of the back piece A and to the side edges of the front pieces I) 19 12 12 all substantially as set forth.

3. A body garment for women composed of an upper portion A A A of elastic fabric, except at the middle front part 000/, which is of inelastic fabric, and with the front elastic pieces A A gored out at their lower edges, and provided with reinforcing strips a over the seam which unites the edges formed by cutting out the gores, this upper portion covering the back, shoulders and breasts; and of a-lower portion B covering the body below the arms, all substantially as set forth. SUSAN TAYLOR CONVERSE.

Witnesses:

J. E. MAYNADIER, JOHN R. SNOW. 

